The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1887-01-07

"fis an odd time to set the mill
aeoing," answered Peter Fame. Gould
you not have come earlier? / have
been expecting you all the day."
II have had long road to travel"
the stranger replied, "for there are a
few mills nowadays where u simple
man like me can have his 81 ain ground
and this sack must be turned into
meal before the morrow's dawn"
"Well, then," said Peter Fame, "put
up your horse in the shed by the mill,
and come i'll and warm yourself, All
these long years no man could ever
say that l refused to grind his grist,
nor shall they say it now" And while
the stranger drove his horse into the
shed as he was hidden, Peter Fame re.
kindled his fire and lighted his lamp,
and, us the light illuminated the room,
he glanced at the clock and saw that
midnight
sit is q snowy night" said the
stranger, as he entered, and, standing
by the fire, shook upon the hearth the
snow from his garments "It is a
snowy night when the wind is cold,
and one when such q fire as this is
very welcome.
Peter Fame scanned his visitor
| closely.
"Have not seen you before?" he
said, pressing his hand to his brow as
if in thought. "There is something in
your face which seems strangely famil-
| lar, and yet cannot recall the time
nor place where we have met before."
"We meet so many men in the
world" answered the stkanger, with
an odd smile upon his tountenance,
as he warmed himself by the fire.
"We meet so many men in the world
that their faces linger without cause
in our memories. If you yourself can
uot recall the time that we have met
before | cannot aid you TO oso."
"Well, - answered the miller, as he
rose and took the lamp in his hand,
III grist is to be ground there is no
time like the present to grind it in"
Lead the way and ! will follow"
replied the stranger; and Peter Fame
proceeded to the mill, while the stran-
ger walked behind '
"Bring in your grist,"- said Peter
door OF the mill with many creak
| bhd Slottl VI us illSlS hinges
May not also lead i'll my horse?'
asked the stranger. "It is a cold
night outside, and your shed has
many q crack and crevice that let's
in the cold north wind. The brute is
a faithful brute and has borne me
well, and the shelter OF the mill is bet
ter than the shelter OF the shed''
"Aye, lead him in," answered the
miller. "Never truer word was spolS-
en- than that the mercitul man is
merciful to his beast. 'Tis fine ami
NAL" he continued, as the horse was
led forward, land I'll warrant, one
that no ordinary amount OF labor
will tire. But marvel much that so
fine q beast should be OF such a color"
at is not the least OF his merits"
replied the stranger. "There is not
one lark hair npon him. From ear
| tip to hoof his coat is as white as the
driven snow."
He will not mind the clatter OF the
mill, will he?" asked Peter Fame.
"Not he," replied the stranger lift
ing down the bag OF grain. "Now,
may empty the grist." ~.
AS with rumble and a jar and many
a hoarse moan, the old mill-wheel
started -on its revolution and the
frame OF the building shook, creaked
and groaned in all it's Joints, as if in
| protest at this unseemly disturbance
OF its rest. .-,.,,-..
1t was quaint scene. The lamp il
Illuminated only a narrow circle imme-
| diately surrounding it and threw the
shadows of the ioists and beams
athwart the darkness beyond in bars
of deeper blackness, and cast disk
OF light on the root. overhead which
seemed like q sun looking down
through thick mist OF clouds. Full
in the circle of light was the figure of
the aged miller. and further off, where
the light was dim (where indistinctly
SEEM, was the stranger, still closely
muIfled in his cloak, and the vague
figure OF q horse, and in the back
ground was the darkness quilted with
| the weird shadows of the revolving
machinery, while glints of fire gittered
from the eyes OF startled rats, as they
peered cautiously out of their holes at
the intruders.
Suddenly, it seemed to Peter Fame,
as if there came from the old house
sounds of merry laughter; and some
how, though he was in the mill, he
knew that his cottage was filled with
Jolly revelers
"You seem to have gay company
yonder,' said the stranger, nodding
his head in the direction whence came
the merry sounds.
$50 it seems" replied the miller,
candy yet know not who they are, nor
| what these sounds mean, nor can
leave my grist to go and see
But even as he spoke the door be-
tween the cottage and the mill flew
open, and crowdsof figures trooped
in. Old Peter Fame placed his hand
upon his head in wondering thought.
"Can l be asleep?'' he said. cam, l
dreaming that here tonight have
come the friends OF my past years.
years, boys whom l played with in
childhood, girls whom loved, wife
and children, parents and brothers
and sisters, those whom thought
were dead,-have you in truth come
to me again, or are you but the fan
cies ofmy dreams?"
And he stood erect and gazed at
them as if waiting for an answer.
Late in the afternoon on the follow
| ing day party OF the country folk,
returning homeward, passed the old
mill. There was no sign OF human
lie about the premises, no smoke
from the chimney, no footsteps in the
snow, and yet through the silence OF
the gathering twilight came the clatter
of the mill and the sad bowling
OF q dog.
"Old Peter Fare is at work in the
mill" these country folk said as they
stopped. "Whose grist can he begrind.
| inv tho% ho ,rc,l,, f1Nt, n